Expandable a-frame type trailable building structure

ABSTRACT

A mobile home having wall members hingedly mounted to the structure for allowing the members to assume an outwardly extending angularly oriented position. Floor extensions are moved for connection with wall members to form additional living space. Telescoping braces are connected to the lower wall members and engage the ground thereby stabilizing the structure.

United States Patent [1 1 Barlow 1541 EXPANDABLE A-FRAME TYPE TRAILABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE [7 6] Inventor Richard A. Darlow, 2008 Dundee Road, Rockville, Md. 20850 [22] Filed: NOV. 5, 1970 [21] App]. No.: 87,071

[52] US. Cl. ..52/69, 52/90, 52/66 [51] Int. Cl. ..E04b 1/343 [58] Field of Search ..52/66, 69, 70, 64

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,793,067 5/1957 Couse ..52/68 3,460,297 8/1969 Fritz t ..52/69 2,805,884 9/1957 Kinsman ..'.52/66 2.765.499 10/1956 Couse ..52/66 2,890,907 6/1959 Briskie ..52/66 Feb. 6, 1973 3,168,762 2/1965 Laidler ..52/70 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,581,496 12/1969 France ..52/70 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh Assistant Examiner-l-lenry E. Raduazo Attorney-Cohen & Liss [57] ABSTRACT A mobile home having wall members hingedly mounted to the structure for allowing the members to assume an outwardly extending angularly oriented position. Floor extensions are moved for connection with wall members to form additional living space. Telescoping braces are connected to the lower wall members and engage the ground thereby stabilizing the structure.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures EXPANDABLE A-FRAME TYPE TRAILABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE This invention relates to expandable trailable building structures, and the object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified means by which a trailable building structure, that meets highway'transit requirements can be expanded at the location site into a stabilized two-story A-frame type structure.

One object of this invention is to provide a trailable building structure with a series of hinged sections ing to a towing vehicle. Said l-beam frame carries a generally rectangular base structure comprising of a main floor 12, fixed side walls13, fixed end walls 14, and a second floor 15. Permanent partitions in said base structure provide a means for installing utilities 17, bathroom fixtures 18, kitchen fixtures 19, and stairs 20. Connected to said base structure by a series of piano type hinges are, two foldable triangular gable end which when expanded from horizontal positions on top of the structure to diagonal and vertical positions,form a completely gabled roof and wall area, adding an entirely livable second story to the structure.

Another object of this invention, essential to the first, is to provide the trailable building structure with a series of hinged side wall sections which when expanded from a vertical to a diagonal position, form in addition to more living area, a means of stabilizing the structure through extensions which attach to the ground.

In the process of expansion, the structure takes on the appearance of an A-frame type building, much more aesthetically pleasing than the conventional long boxy looking trailable building structure.

With the above more important objects in view, and

such other objects as may become apparent in the fol-.

lowing specifications, the invention is shown by the arrangement and construction of corespondingly numerated parts set forth in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims which form a part of this specification.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating the structure in the expanded position, as it would appear at the location site.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention, illustrating the structure in the expanded position at the first floor level, including the stair area leading up to the second floor.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the invention, illustrating the structure at the second floor level in the expanded position, including the stair area leading down to the first floor.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the invention, illustrating the structure in the expanded position, the cutaway portion showing essential details of angle iron spans in relation to end and sidewalls.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional end view of the invention, illustrating the structure in the folded position as it wouldappear in transit.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional end view of the invention,

would appear at the location site.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the invention, illustrating the structure in the expanded position at station A-A of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a detailed portion of a cross-sectional view of the invention, illustrating the structure in the expanded position at station B-B of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a detailed portion of a crosssectional view of the invention, illustrating the structure in the expanded position at station C-C of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of an expandable trailable building structure designated by the numeral 10, which embodies in its construction a rigid steel I-beam frame 11, with necessary wheels and a hitch unit for connectwalls 21, eight (four to each side) foldable rectangular interconnecting roof sections 22, four(two to each side) foldable rectangular vertical sidewall sections 23, eight(four to each side) attachable triangular endwall sections 24, four (two to each side) foldable rectangular floor sections 25. In its folded position, this structure meets all the requirements for highway transit.

In more detail, it will be noted that in the first phase of expansion of the structure, piano hinges 26, which secure the interconnecting rectangular roof sections,

22, to the top portions of fixed sidewalls 13, allow these sections to be raised from a horizontal to a diagonal position and interconnect with each other to form a gabled roof. Bracing members 27, attached to the folding roof sections on each side at regular intervals, act in the A-frame principle to add rigidity to the roof and allow the use of lighter roof materials. It will also be noted that piano hinges 28, which secure the foldable triangular gable end wall sections 21, to the top portion of fixed end walls 14,,allow these sections to be raised from a horizontal to a vertical position and to be joined with the end portions of folding roof sections 22, enclosing the second floor area of the structure. Partition arrangements can be added to said second floor area when in the expanded position to divide it into suitable sleeping and storage areas.

Now, in the second expansion phase of the structure, it will be noted that piano hinges 29, which secure the top portions of foldable rectangular vertical sidewall sections 23, to a series of four (two to each side) angle iron spans 30, which connect fixed walls 13, and 14,

allow said sections to be raised from a vertical to a diagonal'position and to be joined at their base to foldable rectangular floor sections 25. Attached to said foldable rectangular vertical sidewall sections 23, at their base when in the expanded position, are provisions for extending beams 31, which attach to the ground, giving stability to the structure, especially in severe wind storms. I

It will be further noted in FIGS. 6 and 8 that angle iron spans 30, attached to fixed sidewalls l3, and to end posts 32, of fixed end walls 14, form an opening for said sidewall sections 23, when in the folded position. In addition to this it will be noted in FIGS. 6 and 8 that another series of four(two to each side) angle iron spans 33, attached to fixed sidewalls 13, and to the end posts 32, of fixed end walls 14, act as a support for the second floor in the area over said vertical sidewall sections 23.

Refering back to FIGS. 6 and 8, it will be noted that the foldable rectangular floor sections 25, are attached I to the main floor 12, by piano hinges 34, partially con- 3 4 tachment of triangular endwall segments 24, to end hinge means attached to the sidewalls of the framej posts 32, of fixed endwalls 14, foldable' vertical at least one foldable roof section mounted to the sidewalls 23, and foldable floor sections 25. hinge means for pivotally moving about a horizon- Fur h r de a n FIGS- 8 and show that fixed tal axis, fixed relative to the frame, from a horizon-- sidewalls 13, extend upward beyond the second flOOl' tal pgsfljgn with respect to the f amg to an ans at unequal heights l l sides, allowing larly oriented position with respect to the frame; theattached foldable rectangular [00f sections 22, to at least ng foldable vertical side wall section lie in the folded position, in the order, right side over mounted hinge means for pivotally moving left side, exactly horizontal over the foldable triangular about a horizontal axis fi d relative to the frame,

gable endwalls sections 21. Provision is made for the 10 addition of gusset plates 35, at regular intervals attached to the studs of fixed sidewalls 13, and the joists of the second floor 15, to add rigidity to the structure.

From the-description above, it is seen that this invention provides for a trailable building structure which when at a location site can be expanded to form a 2 story A-frame type of structure. Any suitable hoisting device, such as a crane or simple arrangement of beams and block and tackle can be used for raising the foldable sections of the structure into their proper positions. Having thus described the embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that certain structural modifications anaddaptations could be made without changing the scope of theinventiomas described in the from a vertical position with respect to the frame to a downwardly coextensive angularly oriented position with respect to the roof section;

a main floor attached to the frame;

and floor extension means connected to the main floor by floor mounted hinge means for pivotally moving about a horizontal axis, fixed relative to the frame, from juxtaposition with the main floor to a laterally coplanar extended position with respect to the main floor;

whereby the sidewall section and the roof section form an inclined sidewall of an A-frame structure.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 together with a at least one extendable support means connected to the claims. sidewall for abutting the ground when the structure iswhat is claimed is: v assembled in an A-frame configuration; 1. An expandable building structure comprising: j F the extendable l P means Provides a fixed support frame having side walls and transfor the erected f structureverse end walls; r 4 

1. An expandable building structure comprising: a fixed support frame having side walls and transverse end walls; hinge means attached to the side walls of the frame; at least one foldable roof section mounted to the hinge means for pivotally moving about a horizontal axis, fixed relative to the frame, from a horizontal position with respect to the frame to an angularly oriented position with respect to the frame; at least one foldable vertical side wall section mounted to hinge means for pivotally moving about a horizontal axis, fixed relative to the frame, from a vertical position with respect to the frame to a downwardly coextensive angularly oriented position with respect to the roof section; a main floor attached to the frame; and floor extension means connected to the main floor by floor mounted hinge means for pivotally moving about a horizontal axis, fixed relative to the frame, from juxtaposition with the main floor to a laterally coplanar extended position with respect to the main floor; whereby the sidewall section and the roof section form an inclined sidewall of an A-frame structure.
 1. An expandable building structure comprising: a fixed support frame having side walls and transverse end walls; hinge means attached to the side walls of the frame; at least one foldable roof section mounted to the hinge means for pivotally moving about a horizontal axis, fixed relative to the frame, from a horizontal position with respect to the frame to an angularly oriented position with respect to the frame; at least one foldable vertical side wall section mounted to hinge means for pivotally moving about a horizontal axis, fixed relative to the frame, from a vertical position with respect to the frame to a downwardly coextensive angularly oriented position with respect to the roof section; a main floor attached to the frame; and floor extension means connected to the main floor by floor mounted hinge means for pivotally moving about a horizontal axis, fixed relative to the frame, from juxtaposition with the main floor to a laterally coplanar extended position with respect to the main floor; whereby the sidewall section and the roof section form an inclined sidewall of an A-frame structure. 